[Review] Viva Lavender Puts An Asian Spin On European Cuisine With Wood-Fired Meats And More

If you are looking for a new spot around Lavender for a proper sit-down meal, Viva Lavender offers something a little different from the usual neighbourhood fare. The cosy restaurant serves European cuisine with Asian influences, with its menu built around four key pillars: Modern Tapas, Wood-Fired Grill, Steak and Wine.

We started with the Padrón Peppers, Salmon Tartare, Smoked Japanese Mackerel and Tomato & Burrata Salad. The Padrón Peppers were blistered and served with sea salt and chimichurri, giving them a smoky char with a fresh, herby kick from the sauce.

The Salmon Tartare was a more refreshing option, pairing fresh salmon with ajoblanco, pipirrana and pomegranate. The combination brought together creamy, tangy and slightly sweet flavours, with the pomegranate adding little bursts of acidity.

We also tried the Smoked Japanese Mackerel, which came with roasted piquillo pepper coulis and fresh herbs. The mackerel had a gentle smokiness without being too overpowering, while the sweet pepper coulis helped balance its richer flavour.

The Tomato & Burrata Salad was comparatively simple, pairing heirloom tomatoes and creamy burrata with olive oil and Casa Virgili olive oil. The juicy tomatoes and rich burrata made this an easy starter to share before moving on to the mains.

For the mains, we tried the Secreto Ibérico, Shrimp Pasta, Pressed Lamb Belly and Miso Black Cod.

The Secreto Ibérico is a cut of Spanish Ibérico pork served with pineapple kimchi and ssamjang aioli. The pork itself was savoury and rich, while the pineapple kimchi brought a sweet and tangy contrast. The ssamjang aioli added another layer of savouriness and spice, making this one of the more interesting combinations we tried.

The Shrimp Pasta was a seafood-heavy option featuring fresh prawns, grilled tiger prawns and lobster bisque. The prawns added a nice bite to the pasta, while the lobster bisque gave the dish a rich, savoury seafood flavour.

The Pressed Lamb Belly was probably the biggest surprise of the meal for us. I usually do not enjoy lamb because of its stronger flavour, but this was one dish that changed my mind. The lamb belly was slow-cooked until incredibly tender, with the meat breaking apart easily with each bite. It also did not have the particularly strong lamb flavour that I tend to dislike. Served with cauliflower rice, balsamic reduction and parsley sauce, the accompaniments helped to keep the rich lamb balanced.

The Miso Black Cod was another highlight for its combination of Japanese flavours with a more Western-style preparation. The miso-glazed black cod was tender and flaky, with a savoury sweetness from the glaze that worked well with the naturally rich fish. It was served with hibiko beurre blanc and charred broccolini, adding more richness and a slight smokiness to the dish.

We ended the meal with two desserts: the Chocolate Mousse & Hazelnut and Burnt Manchego Cheesecake. The Chocolate Mousse & Hazelnut combines dark chocolate mousse, light chocolate mousse and salted hazelnuts, giving the dessert a mix of rich chocolate and nuttiness.

The Burnt Manchego Cheesecake was more unusual, using Manchego cheese to give the familiar burnt cheesecake a slightly savoury and tangy character. It makes for an interesting dessert if you prefer something less sweet and more complex in flavour.

While we did not get to try the steaks during our visit, Viva Lavender has eight different beef cuts available, cooked over a wood-fired Josper Grill. Individual options include Grass-Fed Spanish Bone-In Striploin ($65), 450-Day Grain-Fed Shimo Wagyu Flap ($48) and Australian “Signature” Black Angus Ribeye ($80), while larger sharing cuts include Australian Black Angus Porterhouse ($140), Butter-Aged “Sanchoku” Wagyu OP Rib ($32 per 100g) and a 1.6kg Dry-Aged Black Angus Tomahawk ($28 per 100g).

For more information, visit Viva Lavender’s website here.

Viva Lavender

Address: 161 Lavender Street, #01-02/03/04, Singapore 338750
Opening hours: Daily, 11.30am–3pm and 5.30pm–10.30pm
3-Course Set Lunch: From $29++
Viva Hour: Monday to Thursday, before 8pm with food order
Viva Lavender is not halal-certified.